Ignition system.



B. AMES.

IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,1915- 1 21 9 687. Patented M31. 2o, 1917. 9 7 f 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- Tg'g. 11519. .2f

B. AMES.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION man JUNE 30. |915.

1,21 9,687. Patented Mar. 20, `1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BUTLER AMES, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented, Mal. 2U, 19m?.

Application led June 30, 1915. Serial No. 37,168.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BUTLER AMEs, citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems, of which the following is a `specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to dual ignition systems employed to fire a chargeof explosive mixture in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

One ofthe principal features of my invention relates to means whereby an independent source of electrical current, as a battery, may be connected with the primary winding of the armature of a magneto, for the purpose of building up a magneto generated current that, at the desired time of its interruption, would, otherwise, be too weak to result in a spark sufficiently hot t secure ignition in the firing cylinder; as where the engine, and hence the magneto, is running at a speed too low to generate an effective spark; or as where, the speed required is so high that the interruption of the primary current would have to be so hastened or advanced as to take place before the generated current had reached the desired strength.

Another feature of my invention resides in a rotary mechanical interruption, and a commutator that may be combined and assembled `in a unitary structure, and easily applied to a high tension magneto to be used to attain the above-mentioned objects.

A further feature of my invention is embodied in a magneto provided with a rotary mechanical interrupter and a commutator; an external source of current, and a switch, all so arranged that battery current, while the engine and magneto are in a state of rest, may, for the purpose of firing an explosive mixture in the engine cylinder, be momentarily allowed to flow through the primary winding of the armature, and then be interrupted, even though the contact points of the interrupter may be open, thus greatly increasing the possible starting range of the magneto.

A still further feature of my invention v has for its object the reduction of the amperage of the battery current that, flowing through the primary, would, otherwise, tend to heat the magneto, and cause arcing at the points of contact of the interrupter; and this object is attained by placing in the battery circuit a non-inductive resistance coil. Such coil also prevents wastage of said current.

Another object of my invention is to combinein a switch box, suitable parts for manually connecting and disconnecting the electrical circuits required in attaining the various objects of my invention.

Other features of my invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the principles of my invention and the best mode now known to me of embodying the same in operative structure, p

Figure l is an end view of a magneto provided with an interrupter constituting one feature of my invention; the breaker box having been removed.

Figs. 2 and 3 ,are respectively a side view and a plan of the same. The breaker box, in Fig. 2 being indicated by dotted lines; and the interrupter in Fig. 3, being moved so that its points are separated.

Figs. t and 5 show in detail in section, respectively on line 4--4 of Fig. 1, a cam vroller and terminals of the interruptren.;

and on line 5-5 Fig. L the cam roller and the method of confining it in operative position.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the interrupter and its connection to the armature shaft.

Fig. 7 is a like section of the interrupter, and a commutator combined therewith, and constituting another feature of my invention; the breaker box also being indicated in vertical section.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed views of the said commutator.

Fig.y 10 illustrates, partly in section, the breaker box, commutator, brushes and termin-als to be connected with an external cirj cuit.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of another form of interrupter embodying another feature of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the same and the breaker box, in section, containing the same.

Fig. 13 is a plan of a switch employed in a dual electric Vsystem of ignition making use of the above-illustrated features.-

Fig. 14 is a detail of a push button used in said system, and invented by me. lt is partly in section on line 14-14, Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows diagrammatically the electric circuits required in this system.

On the end portion of the armature shaft l, Fig. 6, of a magneto 2 is mounted a structure embodying parts of an interrupter 3 in the primary circuit. Itconsists of a metallic disk 4; a thin metallic diagonal plate 5, and asimilar piece of insulation 6, mounted diametrically on the disk 4, and there secured by screws 7 similarly insulated from the plate and engaging the metal disk 4; a resilient metal ring 8 concentric with said disk 4 and fixed to said plate 5 by metallic pins 9 diametrically opposite, so that the opposite unconlined portions of said ring 8 may be moved toward and away from said disk 4. At points substantially ninety degrees between these pins 9, are located two platinum contact points l0, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of the interrupter, whose longitudinal axis is parallel with that of the armature shaft 1; one being fixed in the ring 8 and the other in the disk 4, and both being normally in Contact. In a cavity 11, Fig. 5, near the circumference of the disk 4 is a freely contained fiber cam roller 12 whose axis is at right angles to that of the armature shaft. The roller engages both a cam surface'13 formed on the end plate 14 of the magneto, and also the under surface of the ring 8, Figs. 2 and 3, of the interrupter; the diameter of the roller being such that normally the roller permits the terminals 10, Fig. 2, of the interrupter to be in contact. To hold the interrupter in proper longitudinal relation to the armature, is a long metallic screw 15, Fig. 6, free, and thus insulated, from the sides of the disk 4, but in metallic contact with the plate 5 by means of the screw head.

This screw passes longitudinally through the front end of the armature shaft and engages a metallic plate, not shown at the rear end of the front armature shaft from which it is insulated. While this interrupter constitutes one feature of my invention, it is designed to be combined with a commutator 16, Figs. 7, 8 and 9, to form a unitary structure which embodies another feature. This commutator is cylindrical and consists of two insulated metallic segments 17, 18, whose polarity changes twice for each revolution of the'armature. One of the parallel faces 19, Fig. 8, of the commutator is designed to contact the plate 5 of the interrupter; is rightly positioned by a pin 20 engaging the plate 5; the commutator and interrupter being combined by a long screw 20, like screw 15 just described; the head 22 binding against the outside segment 18, while the shaft of the screw passes through the insulation 23 Without contacting the other segment, and then, as before, through the interrupter, and into screw engagement 'with the above-mentioned insulated plate not shown, at the rear of the front armature lneto, are oppositely disposed commutator brushes 25, 26, insulated, and provided with binding screw terminals 27, 28, for an external circuit, all of which needs no further description.

As a substitute for the above-described interrupter 3, may be used the interrupter illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, and invented by me. It comprises a metallic disk 29V designed to be mounted upon the armature shaft; a fiber roller 30 freely confined in a cavity in the rim of the disk, but operating in a plane at right angles to the armature shaft, instead of a plane parallel with the axis as shown in the interrupter depicted in Fig. l. A piece of insulation 31 and block of brass 32 extend diametrically across the interior of said disk; the block supporting an interrupter terminal 33 mounted upon a spring arm 34, electrically connected with said metallic block by means of screw 35. Directly over said spring arm 34 is an auxiliary spring 36 always engaged by the roller 30.

It is to be understood that the top open portion of this cavity is shorter than the diameter of the roll so that the latter is held within the cavity. Upon the interior of the breaker box 24, Fig. l2, are two cam surfaces 37 to seasonably cause the roller, in its rotation with the rest of the interrupting mechanism, to press down the auxiliary s ring 36, which in turn causes the termina spring 34 to break contact With the other contact 38 on Athe disk 29. The commutator 16, Figs. 8 and 9, may be mounted upon and used with this interrupter in exactly the same manner as with the interrupter shown in Fig. 7.

One of the numerous advantages iiowing from the use of this auxiliary spring 36, isA that the latter, rather ,than the spring arm 34, receives the wear due to the numberless intermittent frictional contacts with the liber roller 30; and hence the efficiency and life of the spring arm are in no wise impaired, as would be the case were the roller to engage the spring arm directly.

The magneto, interrupter and commutator described, while embracing novel features of construction, will be understood as broadly constituting apparatus in which the polarity of the segments of the commutator changes to conform to the constant polarity of the brushes in circuit with an external source of unidirectional electrical current and allows said current to iow through the primary winding of the armature wlthout demagnetizing the magnet, as is Well known '15 cuits.

A source of current 40, as a battery, which is here assumed to be of higher potential than `is necessary to give suflicient induction in the armature, has one pole connected with one brush as 26 of the commutator 16, and to a starting terminal 41. Its other pole may be connected by a switch 42 to the other commutator brush and also to a second starting terminal 43. The primary 25 winding of the armature 44 and one segment 17 of the commutator are vin circuit and grounded, as also are the contact points of the interrupter 3 and the other. commutator segment 18; while a manually operated l'starting switch 45 which is also grounded, may be moved into and out ofv contact with the two starting terminals l41 43, of the battery in succession.

If the engine is standing still, and one desires to start the engine, battery is placed in circuit with the commutator segments by operating the battery switch 42; the circuit being assumed to be open at the contact points of nte-rrupter3, no current cany iiow terminal 51, starting switch 45, starting terminal 41, magneto terminal segment 52, fback by wire 53 to battery, and, when the current is broken, an ignition secondary current is induced, a spark produced at the right time in the right cylinder by Wellknown devices, not shown; an explosion takes place, and the engine starts. A momentary completion of the battery circuit by swinging the starting switch 45 into and so out of contact with the other starting terminal 43 is of no effect because the poles of switch and terminal 43 are of the same polarity. If, however, the armature is onehalf 'a 'revolution in advance of what is shown, andthe engine is at rest, then momentary contact with the last-mentioned terminal will complete and interrupt the circuit through the primary winding, z'. e. current will How from terminal segment 49 through starting terminal 43, starting switch 45, ground, rimary winding 44, commutator segment 1 brush 26, magneto terminal segment 52, wire 53 back to battery; with the result that an ignition spark will be generated; while a similar contact with ,the other starting terminal 41 will not.

Hence, if the switch is moved into and out of contact with one starting terminal and then the other, a proper spark is sure to be formed; always assuming that the interrupter terminals are out of contact, and there is a suitable charge of explosive mixture in the cylinder. If these assumptions are not true, then the engine must be cranked in the usual way, and the sparks be generated by the operation of the magneto,-augmented by the current from the battery-and the automatic interrupter.

The actual switch structure comprises a cylindrical case A Fig. 13 with a centrally pivoted switch 42 and a push switch 45, Fig. 14. By means of a metallic segment 54 on the former, and battery segment 48, and magneto segment 49, the battery may be placed in, or cut out from, the primary circuit, or the latter circuit may be open and closed; while with the latter push switch 45, the starting terminals 41., 43, may be successively momentarily grounded for the purpose of inducing an ignition current in a manner already described. This latter switch is clearly Yillustrated in Figs. 13 and 1-4. Perpendicularly to the bottom of the case, is mounted in a recess 55 therein, a spring supported push pin 56 of insulating material and having a circumferential groove 57. A U-sha ed metal spring 5,8 is secured to a block Xed in the bottom of the case, and grounded, the spring arms 59, 60, embracing the push pin which they engage with diametrically opposite contact heads 61, 62. Each of these arms also has a terminal 63, 64, positioned to make and .break contact with its respective starting terminals 43, 41; but is normally out of contact with it, because of the engagement of the contact heads 61, 62, with the pin. Now if the push pin be forced toward the bottom of the case, against the action of the spring (see Fig. 14) the head 61 will snap into the groove 57, and then be forced outward by the descending collar 63 of the pin, and in so doing the terminal 63 will make and break circuit through the starting lterminal 43; and `as the pin continues its downward movement, the same occurrence later takes place between the other spring terminal 64 and starting terminal`41. When the pin is released, the operations are reversed, so that bythe normal action of the pin, battery current flows through the primary winding of the armature twice and is interrupted once each time.

The non-inductive resistance coil, where l its use is necessary, is disposed around the outside of the case and connected to the binding posts as indicated both in Figs. 13 and 15, but it is to be remembered that this resistance may be dispensed with should the potential of the source of current be that required.

If the battery switch 42 remains closed after the engine has started, battery current is supplied to the primary winding in the 15 proper direction by the commutator segment 17, 18, and constantly augments the magneto alternating current throughout its various phases, and there is consequently always enough current passing through the primary, to induce, when interrupted, a

proper secondary current, whether the armature is at rest or is moving at a xspeed too slow, alone, to generate the primary current required. In short, there is always enough current in the primary winding, to

' generate a pro er ignition spark, no matter what the position of the armature may be.

If, however, one wishes to run on the magneto current only, then the switch 42 may be moved to cut out battery and close the magneto circuit, by engaging segment terminal 52.

vDesirng to protect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible,

What I claim is:

1. A magneto having a grounded armature circuit, a mechanicalinterrupter in said circuit, and a commutator for properly changing the polarity of the segment terminals of the armature circuit; an external source of unidirectional electrical current; an electric circuit whereby said source of current may be connected tol brushes engaging the segments of said commutator;

two starting terminals electrically connected with the opposite sides of said source of current; a grounded movable starting terminal which may be moved so that an elec trical Acurrent will pass through one or the other of said terminals and hence through the primary winding of the armature and be interrupted, although the mechanical interrupter is open, and regardless of the position of the armature which is at rest;

all designed for the purpose of firing a charge of explosive mixture in the cylinder to which the ignition current is delivered by properly positioned distributing apparatus also at a state of rest.

2. A magneto having a grounded armature circuit, a mechanical interrupter in said circuit, and a commutator for properly changing the polarity of the segment terminals of the armature circuit; an external 55 source of unidirectional electrical current;

Lames? an electric circuit whereby said source of current may be connected to brushes engaging the segments of said commutator; two starting terminals electrically connected with the opposite sides of said source of current; a grounded movable starting terminal which may be successively moved into and'out of engagement of each of said starting terminals, so that an electrical current may pass through one or the other of said terminals and hence through the primary winding of the armature and be interrupted, although the contact points of the mechanical interrupter are open, and regardless of the position of the armature 3g which is at rest; all designed for the purpose of firing a charge of explosive mixture in the cylinder to which the ignition current is delivered by properly positioned. distributing apparatus also at a state of rest; 35 a manual switch to connect or disconnect said source of current in circuit with .said brushes; or then simply to connect or disconnect said brushes; for the purpose of starting the engine by using battery current; or after the engine is started, of using only the current from the magneto for ignition purposes, or using both said magneto current and said unidirectional current.

,3. In a magneto, a mechanical interrupter comprising a metallic disk havingA a rim and being mounted upon the armature shaft of the magneto; an interrupter terminal fixed to said rim; a iber roller freely confined in a cavity in said rim, and operating in a plane at right angles to the axis of the armature shaft; a metallic block mounted within said disk, but insulated therefrom; a metallic spring having an interrupter terminal thereon and secured to said block; an auxiliary' spring over said metallic spring,

and rollingly engaged by said roller; a cam surface to engage said roller and cause it to operate the auxiliary spring which in turn engages and operates the spring with interrupter terminal; and commutating means whereby said interrupter may be placed in an external circuit.

4. A mechanical interrupter comprising two symmetrical metallic plates insulated from each other, normally substantially parallel and having their centers lying in the longitudinal axis of the armature of a magneto; said plates being fixed to the armature; one plate having its outer edge portion bendable toward and away from the other plate; a cam surface on the face of the magneto, adjacent to the latter or roller plate; a roller confined in a cavity in the roller plate and in engagement with said cam surface, and with the other plate; interrupter contacts fixed in the adjacent faces of said plates; said contacts being moved into or out of engagement with each other in a line parallel with the longitudinal axis .130

ofthe armature, by the roller in its movement over the cam surface; and commutatand with the other plate; interrupter contacts lixed in the adjacent faces of said plates; said contacts being moved into or out of engagement with each other in a line parallel with the longitudinal axis of the armature, by the roller in its movements over the cam surface; a cylindrical commutator, one metallic segment of which cntacts the bendable plate; a metallic screw, insulated from said segment and bendable plate, but in contact with the rother seg- 'ment of the commutator, whereby said commutator and plate are axially mounted upon the armature; and means for properly positioning the commutator in relation to the bendable disk of the interrupter; all designed for use with an external source 'of current.

6. In a magneto, a mechanical interrupter ment of vwhich is metallically connected with' "i one of said terminals; a metallic screw connected with the other segment of the commutator but insulated from said former segment and said terminal turning with the armature; said screw fixedly securing said commutator and said 4terminal to the armature shaft; and means for properly positioning said commutator segments in relation to the interrupter terminal and itsoperating cam; all designed for use with an external source of current.

7. In a dual system of ignition, two starting terminals connected with opposite sides of a battery; Vtwo grounded terminals; and

manual means for moving each of said ,1;

grounded terminals successively into and out 'of momentary contact with its respective starting terminal.

8. In a dual system of ignition, two starting terminals connected with opposite sides of a battery; two grounded spring terminals; a push pin of insulating material, normally holding said. spring terminals out of contact With their respective starting terminals; a depression in the surface of said pin, so formed and positioned thatl a predetermined movement of the pin permits the spring wterminals to seasonably move into and out of said depression, thereby permit-l ting said grounded terminals to move into and out of momentary contact with its respective starting terminal.

'In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in the presence of -two witnesses.

BUTLER AMES.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. MCKiiNNA, JOSEPH A.-LEGARE. 

